Stabilizers for railway journal bearing assemblies



D. J. LAU DIG Aug. 31, 1965 STABILIZERS FOR RAILWAY JOURNAL BEARINGA-SSEMBLIES Filed July 17, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR DAV/o z AUD/GD EMA s m MATT-5% D. J. LAU DIG Aug. 3l, 1965 STABILIZERS FOR RAILWAYJOURNAL BEARING ASSEMBLIES Filed July 17, 1962 m m M p ATTORN D. J.LAUDIG 3,203,741

STABILIZERS FOR RAILWAY JOURNAL BEARING ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet Aug.31, 1965 Filed July 17, 1962 United States Patent 3,2%,741 'STABILIZER'SFOR RAILWAY SOURNAL EEARING ASSEMBLES David I. Laudig, La Grange, Ga.,assigner to Callaway Miils Company, La Grange, Ga., a corporation ofGeorgia 'Filed duly 17, 1962, Ser. No. 210,397 lClaims. (Cl. 303-40)This invention relates to stabilizers for railway journal bearingassemblies, and more particularly, to means for limiting the relativehorizontal movements between the axles and the journal boxes of arailway car.

A railway car ordinarily is provided with rotating axles the endportions of which extend loosely into journal boxes carried by the carbody. In a typical plain bearing installation, the portion of an ardedisposed within a journal box has a journal section of reduced diameterto which lubricating oil is supplied from the bottom of the journal boxby wicking means, and a member having a curved lower bearing surfacerests on the top of the journal section or the axle to transmit the loadto the axle. In structures of this type some displacement of therotating journal relative to the journal box and the bearing member ispossible. Such movements may occur, for example, as a result of slackaction in a moving train or when cars are coupled at high speeds orduring rapid braking of a car. Unless these movements are limited, thereis a danger of injuring the bearing surfaces or of causing bearingfailure.

This problem has been recognized heretofore, and varions proposals forits solution have been advanced. In general, the approach has been toprovide the interior of the journal box with stabilizer means havingsurfaces in position to be contacted by the journal after a small amountof displacement of the journal from its normal location. The presentinvention relates to such stabilizer means.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved bearing stabilizermeans of simplified construction that may be manufactured economicallyand that may be installed easily in a conventional railway car journalbox in a position where it may be inspected conveniently.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway car bearingassembly with stabilizer means having a surface of smearable plasticmaterial in position to be contacted at least periodically by a radiallyextending surface of the axle at an end of the journal section so thatsuch axle surface may be coated with the plastic material.

In one embodiment the stabilizer means of this invention is a one-piecenylon unit that includes a pair of journal stops permanently connectedtogether by a thin flat strap. The journal stops are shaped so that theymay be removably held in the journal box on opposite sides of thejournal near the outer end of the journal by the conventional parts ofthe journal box, and no special attaching means are required. A frontsurface portion of each stop may be in position to contact the innerradial surface ot the collar of the outer end of the axle to transfernylon to the collar surface. The strap extends across the bottom of thejournal box beneath the lubricator means that supplies oil to thejournal.

A more complete understanding `of the invention and an appreciation ofits many advantages will be gained from a consideration of the followingdetailed description of certain embodiments illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stabilizer unit constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view ice of aconventional railway car journal box with the stabilizer unit of FIGURE1 in position therein, the view being taken generally along the line 2 2in FIGURE 3 and indicating in phantom lines the position of a lubricatorpad in the journal box; l

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the line 3--3in FIGURE 2 and illustrating in phantom lines the outline of the bearingmember disposed above the journal;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6.---4 in FIGURE2, with the stabilizer unit being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of thestabilizer unit;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 butshowing the stabilizer unit of FIGURE 5 in position within the journalbox; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional View similar to FIGURE 3, butillustrating the stabilizer unit of FIGURE 5 in its operativerelationship with respect to the other parts of the assembly.

The journal box 2 illustrated in the drawings is of conventionalconstruction. It includes an opening 4 at the rear end thereof forreceiving an end portion of an axle 6 of a railway car. The portion ofthe axle 6 disposed within the journal box 2 is shaped to provide ajournal section 3 or" reduced diameter bounded at the rear by a filletitl and at the front by a collar 12.

A bearing member 14 having a lining 16 of cast babbitt or some othersuitable material having antifriction properties rests on the top of thejournal 8. The load is transmitted to the bearing member 14 from the topwall of the journal box 2 through a conventional wedge 18 which alsorestrains the bearing member 14 against lateral movements in aside-to-side direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Movementsof the bearing member 14 in a direction parallel to the axis of thejournal S are limited by the collar 12 and by bearing retainer ribs 20on the side walls of the journal box 2. The bearing retaining ribs 2@extend vertically and their front faces 22 cooperate with laterallyprotruding lugs 24 on the sides of the bearing member 14 to limitrearward movement of the bearing member 14- along the journal 8, assuggested in FIG- URE 3. Beneath the level of the lugs 24, each of thevertical ribs 2@ curves outwardly and downwarddly at 26 to join with themain body of the side wall.

Lubricating :oil is supplied to the journal box 2 through an opening 28at the front end thereof, which opening normally is closed by aconventional cover member not illustrated. This lubricating oilaccumulates in the bottom of the journal box 2 and suitable lubricatormeans 29, such as textile waste material or a preformed lubricator pad,serves to transfer the oil to the surface of the rotating journal 8 at arate sufficient to lubricate the bearing. In many journal boxes,horizontal waste retainer ribs 3u are provided for restricting movementsof the lubricator means out of the lower portion of the journal box.-

The bearing stabilizer unit 32 shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 preferablyis formed from nylon in a single molding operation. However, many of theadvantages or the invention may be obtained when other materials andfabrica-tion procedures are employed. The unit includes a pair ofidentical journal stops 34 connected together by a strap 36. The journalstops 34 are adapted to fit along the side walls of the journal box 2 atabout the level of the axis of the journal 8, and the strap 36 isadapted to extend across the bottom of the journal box 2 in such amanner as not to interfere with the lubricator means.

Each of the journal stops 34 includes a relatively thick body portionhaving ribs 38 on the face thereof which is to be disposed in proximityto the journal 3. In View of the thickness of the body portion of thejournal stop, judicious coring to minimize shrinkage variations andyinternal stresses `is desirable, thereby increasing strength and impactresistance in the desired direction. When the holes 40 are included inthe structure, the creation of detrimental temperature gradients anduneven shrinkage are avoided during molding and `during operation of theequipment.

Extending upwardly from the body portion of each journal stop 34 arepositioning means that include surfaces adapted to cooperate with thevertical bearing retaining ribs 2t) of the journal box 2. Each journalstop has a vertical surface 4-2 that may contact the front face 22 ofthe adjacent rib to restrict rearward movement of the journal stop inthe journal box. Each of the journal stops also includes a curvedsurface 44 that bears against the upwardly and inwardly curved surface26 of the adjacent rib 20 to limit upward movements of the journal stop.

Downward movements of the journal stops 34 relative to the side walls ofthe journal box 2 normally :are prevented by the horizontal wasteretainer ribs 30. Moreover, even when the stabilizer unit 32 is used ina journal box that does not have waste retainer ribs on its side walls,the strap 36 of the unit provides substantial support to the journalstops 34 and prevents them from moving downwardly out of position. Inthis connection, it will be observed that the strap 36 has an angularportion 46 adjacent to each of the stops 34. When the unit is installedin a journal box the angular portions 46 of the strap 36 are tiexeddownwardly so that they act as springs urging the journal stops 34upwardly against the curved surfaces 26 of the bearing retainer ribs 20.

From FIGURE 4 it will be observed that the journal stops 34 are spaceddownwardly below the bearing member 14. Hence, there is no danger thatthe stabilizer unit of the invention will interfere with the bearingmember 14 or tend to unseat this bearing member during operation of therailway car.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the front face 48 of each of the journalstops 34 is disposed rearwardly of the collar 12. Normally the journalstops 34 do not contact the collar 12. However, if the stops 34 shouldmove forwardly in the journal box 2, ltheir forward mot-ion will bestopped when they come into Contact with the rear radially extendingsurface 50 of the collar 12.

The tthin flat strap portion 36 of the stabilizer unit 32 fits smoothlyagainst the bottom of the journal box 2 and contributes materially tothe positional stability of the unit. Conventional lubricator means maybe put into position on top of the strap 36, and the effectiveness ofthe lubricator means is not impaired in any way by the presence of thestrap.

When the stabilizer unit 32 is to be installed in a journal box, thejournal box 2 is jacked up a few inches so as to bring the wasteretainer ribs to a level near the top of the journal 8 and the members14 `and 18 `are removed from the box. The stabilizer unit 32 then may beslipped into position with respect to the vertical bearing retainingribs 20 and the horizontal waste retaining ribs 30. Then the bearingmember 14 and the wedge 18 may be returned and the journal box 2 loweredonto the journal 3. These operations may be carried out quickly andeasily without subjecting the worker to a danger of injury.

After the stabilizing unit 32 has been installed, it may be inspectedconveniently from the opening 28 at the the front of the journal box 2.Its position is such that it may be checked visually, `and there is noneed for the inspector to insert his hand or a tool into the journalbox.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and7. In these views only one half of the stabilizer unit 52 and one halfof the journal bearing assembly are illustrated, it being understoodthat the unillustrated parts Vare of the same configurations as thosewhich have been illustrated. The stabilizer unit 52 preferably is aunitary nylon body formed in a single molding operation and includes apair of journal stops 54 connected together by a strap 56. It isgenerally similar to the stabilizer unit 32 described above inconnection with FIGURES l through 4, except that it includes surfacesthat may under certain circumstances press against the radiallyextending rear face 5) of the collar 12 on the axle 6 to apply a nyloncoating to such surface.

The journal stops 54 cooperate with the parts of a conventional journalbox 2 in much the same manner as the journal stops 34 illustrated inFIGURES 2, 3 and 4. However, the stops 54- include forwardly protrudingportions 58 the front faces 60 of which are in alignment with the rearradial face Sil of the collar 12. The dimensions of each of the journalstops 54 are such that the horizontal distance between the front face 60of a protrusion 53 and the rearwardly directed vertical face 62 thatcooperates with the front surface 22 of the adjacent bearing retainingrib 20 is approximately the same as the horizontal distance between thefront edge of the bearing member 14 and the rear face of the latterallyprojecting lugs 24 on the bearing member 14. This dimensionalrelationship makes it possible for the collar 12 to bear against thefront face 6i? of the protrusion 58 on the journal stop 54 at times, andwhen the collar 12 does contact the face 60 of the protrusion 5S, itpicks up a coating of nylon that tends to fill in the irregularities onthe surface to minimize the wear between the collar 12 and the frontface of the bearing member 14.

It is neither necessary nor desirable that the collar 12 bearcontinuously against the journal stops 54. The condition suggested inFIGURE 7 is one which would occur only periodically, as when therounding of a sharp curve tends to move the axle 6 as far inwardly ofthe journal box 2 as is permitted by the bearing member 14. Moreover,the journal stops 54 may be so dimensioned that `a certain amount ofwear on the bearing member 14 must take place before the front faces ofthe protmsions can come into contact with the rear of the collar 12.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in detail, various changes and modifications will suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore,that the foregoing be considered las exemplary only and that the scopeof the invention be ascertained from the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car having a journal box provided with side Walls havingvertical bearing retainer ribs protruding from the interior thereof, anaxle including a journal disposed within said journal box andterminating in a collar, and a bearing member resting on the top portionof said journal, the improvement which comprises a pair of nylon journalstops removably positioned in said journal box on opposite sides of saidjournal and a flexible strap connected to said journal stops andextending across the bottom of the journal box in a exed condition forurging said stops against said side walls, each of said journal stopsbeing disposed rearwardly of said collar along a side wall of thejournal box and below said bearing member, and each of said journalstops having surfaces in position to contact both the front surface ofthe adjacent vertical rib and the rear surface of the collar.

2. In a railway car having a journal box provided with side walls havingvertical ribs and horizontal ribs protruding from the interior thereof,an axle including a journal disposed within said journal box andterminating in a collar, and lubricator means disposed in the bottomportion of the journal box for delivering lubricating material to saidjournal, the improvement which comprises an integral stabilizer unitremovably positioned in said journal box and having a pair of plasticjournal stops on opposite sides of said journal connected together byresilient strap means extending across the bottom of the journal boxbeneath said lubricator means, each of said journal stops being disposedrearwardly of said collar along a side wall of the journal box above thehorizontal rib thereon and having surfaces in position to contact thefront surface of the adjacent vertical rib, said strap means resilientlyurging said journal stops outwardly against said sides.

3. A stabilizer unit for use in a railway ear journal box to limitmovement of a journal disposed in said journal box, said stabilizer unitcomprising a pair of non-circular nylon journal stops adapted to bearagainst opposite sides of the journal box in position to be contacted bythe journal upon horizontal movement of the journal relative to thejournal box, each of said journal stops having a plurality of holestherethrough, and a thin iiat nylon strap connecting said journal stopsand being adapted to extend around the bottom of the journal box beneaththe journal and sufliciently resilient when so installed that it urgessaid stop portions away from said journal and toward said oppositesides.

4. In a railway car havingr a journal box provided with side wallshaving upwardly and inwardly curving vertical ribs protruding from theinterior thereof, an axle including a journal disposed within saidjournal box and terminating in a icollar, and lubricator means disposedin the bottom portion of the journal box for delivering lubricatingmaterial to said journal, the improvement which cornprises -a stabilizerunit removably positioned in said journal box and having a pair ofimpact resistant plastic journal stops on opposite sides of said journalconnected together by an integral connector extending across the bottomof the journal box beneath said lubricator means, each of said journalstops being disposed rearwardly of said collar along a side wall of thejournal box and having surfaces in position to contact both the frontsurface and the upwardly and inwardly curving surface of the adjacentvertical rib, an end portion of each of said journal stops being smallerthan the remaining portion thereof and being shaped for passing beneathone of said vertical ribs as said stabilizer unit is inserted inwardlyinto said journal box, said remaining portion including a surface forabutting the front surface of said one of said ribs for limiting theinward movement of the said journal stop.

5. In a railway car having a journal box provided with side walls havingupwardly and inwardly curving vertical ribs and horizontal ribsprotruding from the interior thereof, an axle including a journaldisposed within said journal box and terminating ina collar, a bearingmember resting on the top portion of said journal, and lubricator meansdisposed in the bottom portion of the journal box for deliveringlubricating material to said journal, the improvement which comprises astabilizer unit removably positioned in said journal box and having apair of nylon journal stops on opposite sides of said journal connectedtogether by a thin at nylon strap biasing said journal stops outwardlyand extending across the bottom of the journal box beneath saidlubricator means, each of said journal stops being disposed rearwardlyof said collar along a side wall of the journal box above thehorizon-tal rib thereon and spaced below said bearing member, and eachof said journal stops having a thick body portion and upstandingportions adjacent the journal box wall presenting surfaces in positionto contact both the front surface and the upwardly and inwardly curvingsurface of the adjacent vertical rib.

6. In a railway car having a journal box provided with side walls havingupwardly and inwardly curving vertical ribs and horizontal ribsprotruding from the interior thereof, an axle including a journaldisposed within said journal box and terminating in a collar, a bearingmember resting on the top portion of said journal, and lubricator meansdisposed in the bottom portion of the journal box for deliveringlubricating material to said journal, the improvement which comprises aone-piece nylon stabilizer unit removably positioned in said journal boxand having a pair of journal stops on opposite sides of said journalconnected together by a flexible strap extending across the bottom 6 ofthe journal box beneath said lubricator means, each of said journalstops being disposed rearwardly of said collar along a side wall of thejournal box above the horizontal rib thereon and spaced below saidbearing member, and each of said journal stops having surfaces inposition to conta-ct both the yfront surface and the upwardly andinwardly curving surface of the adjacent vertical rib, the inner endportions of said stops being shaped throughout their length for passinginwardly beneath said vertical ribs while being urged inwardly on saidhorizontal ribs when the unit is mounted into the journal box.

7. A stabilizer unit for use in a railway car journal box to limitmovement of a journal disposed in said journal box, said stabilizer unitcomprising a pair of nylon journal stops adapted to bear againstopposite sides of the journal box in position to be contacted by thejournal upon horizontal movement of the journal relative to the journalbox, each of said journal stops having a plurality of ribs on the sideof the stops positioned adjacent the journal when the unit is mounted in.a journal box, said ribs extending radially tof the journal whenpositioned in the journal box, said journal stops having holes extendingtherethrough, said holes terminating between said ribs and extendingradially of the journal when the unit is positioned in the journal box,and a thin at nylon strip connecting said journal stops and beingadapted to extend around the bottom of the journal box beneath thejournal.

8. In a railway car having a journal box provided with side walls havingupwardly and inwardly curving vertical ribs and horizontal ribs.protruding from the interior thereof, an axle including a journaldisposed within said journal box and terminating in a collar, a bearingmember resting on the top portion of said journal, and lubricator meansdisposed in the bottom portion of the journal box for deliveringlubricating material to said journal, the improvement which comprises astabilizer unit removably positioned in said journal box and having apair of nylon journal stops on opposite sides of said journal connectedtogether by a thin flat nylon strap extending across the bottom of thejournal box beneath said lubricator means, each of said journal stopsbeing disposed rearwardly of said collar along a side wall of thejournal box above the horizontal rib thereon and spaced below saidbearing member, and each of said journal stops having a thick bodyportion and an upstanding vertical surface intermediate its ends and anarcuate surface adjacent the respective journal box side wall, said bodyportion forwardly of said vertical surface terminating adjacent thecollar and having a length less than the body portion and forming an`abutment surface on the stop, said arcuate surface extending from saidvertical surface to the opposite end of the stop, whereby the arcuatesurface contacts the upwardly and inwardly curving surface of theadjacent vertical rib and the vertical surface contacts the frontsurface of the adjacent vertical rib.

9. A unitary nylon stabilizer unit for use in a hollow railroad journalbox of the type having a bottom wall, side walls and a front wall, saidbox also including along its side Walls a pair of opposed verticallydisposed inwardly projecting bearing retaining ribs and a pair ofopposed inwardly projecting waste retaining ribs disposed horizontallybelow and forwardly of said bearing retaining ribs, the journal beingreceived from one end in said journal box, said stabilizer comprising aresilient strap of a length to extend transversely along the bottom wallof said journal box and terminate adjacent said waste retaining ribs,angular'portions connected to the ends of said strap for projectinginwardly and upwardly from said strap when said str-ap is positionedalong the bottom Wall of said journal box, journal stops connected tothe ends of said angular portions, the outer and lower surfaces of saidjournal stops having coniigurations for conforming to the configurationsof the side walls of said journal box above said waste retaining ribsand for conforming to the configuration of the upper surface of saidwaste retaining ribs, -said journal stops being so dimensioned thatinner portions thereof are adapted to be received beneath said bearingretaining ribs as the lower surfaces of said journal stops are adaptedto be received on said waste retaining ribs, said journal stops havingvertical portions outwardly of said inner portions for abutting thefront faces of said bearing retaining ribs, and vertically disposedaxially spaced ribs on the inner faces of said journal stops for beingengaged by said journal upon lateral movement of said axle, saidstabilizer unit being removable from said journal box through said frontopening when the top of the journal is at a level with the Wasteretaining ribs without the necessity of removing said journal from saidjournal box.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said stops are resilientand so shaped that said strap biases said journal stops outwardlyagainst said sides When said stabilizer unit is received in said journalbox.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,941,849 6/60Sale 308-40 2,957,733 10/60 Hare 308-40 5 3,028,202 4/62 George 308-383,075,815 1/63 Diggins 308-40 FOREIGN PATENTS 879,360 10/61 GreatBritain.

10 OTHER REFERENCES Magnus Solid Bearing, by Magnus Metal Corporation.Published in Modern Railroads, November 1953,

pages 136 and 137 relied upon. 308-4l. 15 DON A. wA1TE,PrmaryExarrriner.

FRANK SUSKO, Examiner.

1. IN A RAILWAY CAR HAVING A JOURNAL BOX PROVIDED WITH SIDE WALLS HAVINGVERTICAL BEARING RETAINER RIBS, PROTRUDING FROM THE INTERIOR THEREOF, ANAXLE INCLUDING A JOURNAL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID JOURNAL BOX ANDTERMINATING IN A COLLAR, AND A BEARING MEMBER RESTING ON THE TOP PORTIONOF SAID JOURNAL THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A PAIR OF NYLON JOURNALSTOPS REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID JOURNAL BOX ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAIDJOURNAL AND A FLEXIBLE STRAP CONNECTED TO SAID JOURNAL STOPS ANDEXTENDING ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE JOURNAL BOX IN A FLEXED CONDITION FORURGING SAID STOPS AGAINST SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH OF SAID JOURNAL STOPSBEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID BEARING ALONG A SIDE WALL OF THEJOURNAL BOX AND BELOW SAID BEARING MEMBER, AND EACH OF SAID JOURNALSTOPS HAVING SURFACES IN POSITION TO CONTACT BOTH THE FRONT SURFACE OFTHE ADJACENT VERTICAL RIB AND THE REAR SURFACE OF THE COLLAR.